Colorado man accused of supporting extremist terror group

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Initial court appearance held for a Colorado man charged with supporting extremist terror group

Jamshid Muhtorov, a refugee from Uzbekistan, was arrested in Chicago on Saturday

The FBI said Muhtorov was planning to travel and fight with the Islamic Jihad Union

The IJU has claimed responsibility for numerous attacks in Afghanistan

A Colorado man arrested on terror charges made an initial appearance in court on Monday, the Justice Department said.

Jamshid Muhtorov, 35, was taken into custody on Saturday at Chicago's O'Hare Airport. He is charged with providing and attempting to provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization, a statement from the Justice Department said.

A criminal complaint against Muhtorov, who is a refugee from Uzbekistan, indicated that he planned to travel overseas and fight on behalf of the Islamic Jihad Union.

The IJU is a Pakistan-based extremist group which adheres to an anti-Western ideology and seeks to replace the current regime with a government based on Islamic law, according to the Justice Department.

Government officials say the IJU is known for conducting suicide attacks in Uzbekistan. The group has also claimed responsibility for numerous attacks against coalition forces in Afghanistan, the statement said.

Muhtorov allegedly has sworn allegiance to the IJU, stating that he was "ready for any task, even with the risk of dying," the department said.

However, Muhtorov has not been linked to any plots or attacks on targets inside the United States, the statement said..

Muhtorov currently lives in Aurora, Colorado.

Officials said he also uses the names Abumumin Turkistony and Abu Mumin.

He was arrested after a long-term investigation by the FBI's Denver Task Force, said Justice Department officials.